Best Friend suggested a movie and so, it was only a few pennies to see "Shutter Island". Now, "Shutter Island" was a book I did not read, but much like "The Lovely Bones", it was popular and had a big following before the movie came out.

Two things are terribly wrong with the movie. First, the score by Robbie Robertson is one of the most intrusive I've ever heard. Clearly, a "Lighten Up, Francis" would have helped. And it could have been about 30 minutes shorter. OK, there are some spoilers coming.

Apparently, it's rather faithful to the book, so that means there is a whole lot of explaining to do. For Leonardo DiCaprio is not who he seems. Ben Kingsley is a psychiatrist (he must be, he has a pipe) at this island mental institution, and he doesn't believe in lobotomies. Leo is actually a patient and is participating in what Kingsley calls the most elaborate psychiatric exercise ever taken. Well, in 1954. Basically letting Leo play act his crazy beliefs in the hopes of reality hitting home and curing him.

Much like "Sixth Sense", there are clues if you look for them. An inmate waving to Leo as he goes up to visit Kingsley, allegedly for the first time. Mark Ruffalo hands over his gun to the deputy warden and struggles with it so much, he hands over his gun and holster. That's because he isn't Leo's partner and doesn't know guns, he's his doctor, assigned to him throughout this exercise to keep an eye on him. They refuse to let Leo look at any records, because he isn't a cop, although Ruffalo gets Leo's own admission record later on. So, we get lots of scenes where you have to decide is this part of his illness or is it reality?

Overall, it's just OK, because you have to work too much to figure out things. And it is exhausting to dissect it, although for sure, certain things will bug me for a while.

Meal of Links

Twelve events that will change everything. With appropriate music! Not a big fan of asteroid collisions.

My niece and I were reading "Sleeping Beauty" today. The original, let's say, is quite different.

Just released movies may get to your TV quicker. Hey, this is probably OK for families, but if you're a single, $20-$30 only 30 days after a release is still expensive. If you missed something you really wanted to see, maybe. But that price has to come down after 60 days to be worthwhile, because you'd still do better actually attending a theater.

Exercise Yard

If you were wondering where Indy qualifying was this weekend, it was on Versus. The last hour of Bump Day was the best it's been in a long time. Two cars pulled their already qualified times and both failed to make the field.

Carburetion Day is Friday. I just like saying that. On Versus, too. And I don't subscribe to calling it "Carb Day".

Visitor

None, on a sunny Sunday.

I'm writing through this through a fog of Kevin pours, but I was at the Tribe game for Game 2 of TWIB (This Week in Baseball). My friend Chuck and I took our seats in Section 163 to watch the Indians win, 6-5. No celebrity look-alikes tonight. Last night was full of folks like Fred Funk, Kenny Rogers (the singer) and Jurgen Prochnow. Tonight was just standard, garden variety fan.

The game itself had lots of ups and downs. The Indians went up 3-0 on the strength of a Hafner homer. The Twins caught up and tied it. The Indians went ahead, eventually getting two runs in the eighth to go up 6-3. Which proved to be important because Joe Borowski came on the ninth. Homer by Buscher (Remember Homer Bush? I always liked his nickname, Misnomer Bush.) made it 6-4. Another run came across before Borowski got Justin Morneau looking for strike three. We win!

I actually ordered nachos tonight. Huh? What was that all about? They were good, but I didn't finish them. That wasn't the highlight, however. Two outstanding defensive plays turned in by the Minnesota nine were. Nick Punto barehanded a ball in short centerfield to throw out Ryan Garko, who probably cursed how slow he was, all the way back to the dugout. It shows the genius of whoever decided the bases should be 90 feet apart. Later on, Torii (Tore-eye-eye-eye-eye-eye) Hunter robbed Casey Blake (that guy again) on a deep ball to center. Hunter crashing into the wall to make the catch. Big time stuff.































But with the loss tonight, the Twins are now on life support.

Meal of Links

Obviously, I'm known for my expert swimming. Especially in parts unknown. But I don't mind bubble baths. But, this is ridiculous. I would be very confused. Is it the ocean?...a tub?...God help me.

Mother Jones currently has an informative series on Katrina. BTW, if you get a chance, read "1 Dead in Attic: After Katrina" by Chris Rose. It's out in paperback and I heard him in an interview recently. His writings about the Cat Lady will rip you up.

65 Must-See Films at the Toronto Film Festival. The Dylan movie, of course. My good friend, George Clooney, is in "Michael Clayton". A doc, "Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who". Wonder what that's about. Trust me, I will hunt that one down locally. "Battle in Seattle" amongst others. A strong lineup. Remember, this festival got the "Borat" steamroller started.

Exercise Yard

Here's how Tim Couch was able to make his comeback. Crazy little thing called steroids.

Visitor

52 Down: NBC sportscaster Bob (6 letters) Answer: Costas

Last night, the lure of a suite ticket got me to the Indians game. Got the late call, with a promise of a seat in a loge. Called my brother, picked him up, zipped Downtown in record time. Stopped at Alesci's to get the tickets. As we were walking down the alley, I looked at the ticket. It read "Section 316". Then it hit me, we aren't sitting in a loge, we are in the mezzanine. Damn.

But Captain Cheeseburger threw a nice game, Hafner homered, and the Tribe won. As I said after the game, it was free, it was fun, but it sure would have been nice to sit in a loge.

Meal of Links

It's Pearl in her farewell performance "Game on, holmes."

The Trib with its annual look at their favorite magazines. You can pick a new one to look at with what they list.

You have to watch "Shaq's Big Challenge". Shaq tries to get six overweight kids to drop a few pounds. I love Shaq and his sense of humor really comes through in this series. "It's Boot Camp time."

Exercise Yard
























Becks tries his hand at American football. And Reggie Bush tries his hand at futbol. And, somehow, Peyton Manning will still make better commercial.

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28 Across: "Batman" director Burton (3 letters) Answer: Tim

I hear Jerry Falwell died today. So, I'm zipping through the dial at 9:00 and there is Dead Pool choice Tammy Faye on the phone with Larry King (Schenectady, New York!) giving her two cents about it. Hey, she sounded pretty good for 66 pounds. She goes out every day, even if it's for an hour and her voice sounded fairly strong for someone getting hospice at home. She said she was in a restaurant this afternoon when she heard. If she's 66 pounds, what the hell does she eat?

More on the Rev. Falwell.

Meal of Links

We have Bowie videos! Be sure to flip to Part 2, too. Excellent selections. An early live version of "White Light, White Heat" kicks major ass. (Check the heels!). I love his stroll through Berlin on "DJ". That's when the Thin White Duke weighed about what Tammy Faye does now. You have to watch "Fashion". Great tune and G.E. Smith is in it. The alternate version of "Blue Jean" is a rare one, give that a look. "This Is Not America" has Peyton Manning, I mean, Sean Penn clips in it. Whoever compiled this did a great job. It's hard to find some of these songs, let alone the quality.

Well, CBS booted "Class". I watched that. ABC booted the "Knights of Prosperity". I watched that. But "Cavemen" is on.

Get a copy of the latest Vanity Fair, if you can. Sometimes you unexpectedly find the most amazing things to read on subjects you didn't think were worthy. Nick Tosches piece on the history of sushi was one of those articles.

Exercise Yard

The latest NBA controversy is about the Suns-Spurs game last night. Robert Horry went from "Big Shot Bob" to "Cheap Shot Bob" with one hip-check into the boards on Canadian Steve Nash.

Boris Diaw and Amare Stoudemire left the Suns bench after the hit and you just can't do that. Letter of the NBA law says you get a suspension when you do that, and yes, they got one today. Stoudemire pulled the old , "Hey, I was just going over to report into the game." excuse. He must think Bud Selig runs that league.

Visitor

65 Across: "Need You Tonight" rock group (4 letters) Answer: INXS